Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Uptake of anthropogenic CO/sub 2/ by lateral transport models of the ocean based on the distribution of bomb-produced /sup 14/C

Journal Article · · Radiocarbon; (United States)
OSTI ID:6181082
The pattern of global water column inventories of bomb-produced /sup 14/C suggests that a sizeable portion of bomb /sup 14/C that entered the Antarctic, northern Pacific, and tropical oceans has been transported to adjacent temperate regions. Models of lateral transport of surface water in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans are based on this distribution pattern. Upwelling of bomb-/sup 14/C-free water from below takes place in the Antarctic, northern Pacific, and tropical regions; downwelling of surface water occurs in the temperate oceans and northern Atlantic. Uptake of excess CO/sub 2/ by these models is calculated using the observed Mauna Loa pCO/sub 2/ record as an input function. Results indicate that 35% of fossil fuel CO/sub 2/ is taken up by these model oceans during the period 1958-1980. Considering the observed airborne fraction of 0.55, it appears that ca 10% of the global fossil fuel CO/sub 2/ is still missing.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6181082
Journal Information:
Radiocarbon; (United States), Journal Name: Radiocarbon; (United States) Vol. 28:2A; ISSN RACAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English